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Ella Lieberman after her release from Nazi Germany's concentration camp

in Neustadt - Gleve near Hamburg on May 2, 1945.

I

Ella and Emanuel Schieber - Wedding day, February 12, 1946 in 8ydgoszcz, Poland (Emanuel Schieber wearing

the uniform of an officer in the Polish army).

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The publishing of this book was made

possible through the generous contribution of the

Mendel B. Mitchell Fund of Winnipeg, Canada

& Sanford C. Bernstein & Co, Foundation Inc.

of New York, USA

First edition Second edition Third edition Fourth edition

1992 1994 1997 2002

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vpn 1P ,y o"n On The Edge of the Abyss

Ella Liebermann-Shiber

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Ella and her mother Rosa Lieberman, and her Husband Emanuel Schieber With their children:

Ada, Yehoshua, Shmuel-Samy, and Alexander in their courtyard, at home: 10, Louis Pasteur

- Haifa, October of 1968.

I have tried to express through my drawings all that I felt and saw

in my youth, all that made my world dark, so that my work will bear

witness to those terrible things. It is a meagre attempt, for I do not

believe it possible to convey the horrors we suffered either

through drawings, or any other form of expression .

I began to draw, to sketch whatever was released from within me, grey lines on faded paper.

I reconstructed each picture shortly after I was liberated. With

trembling hands I began to reconstruct the hell from which, by a

miracle, my mother and I had emerged. I felt that every drawing

that disclosed the horrors I had endured in some way eased my

mind. My faith in mankind and the world of today gradually

returned, despite the cruelties my people and I had so recently

suffered.

ELLA LlEBERMANN-SHIBER

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ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS

Ella Liebermann-Shiber was released form Nazi captivity in May

1945 near Hamburg, Germany. She was 17 years old, very th in,

and clad only in a striped prison garment. She says of herself that

she was concerned with one thing alone - the urge to draw, to

bear witness.

This collection of 93 sketches bears graphic testirl]ony to the

horrors she witnessed; it is a direct representation of recent .v~

nightmarish memories.

Born in Berlin, Ella Liebermann-Shiber survived years of hell . Her

ordeals began in 1938 when her family was forced to leave Berlin

and reached Bendin in Poland. With the German invasion her

family found themselves in the ghetto, "in a hovel where the lack

of air was such that one could not even light a cand le." She

witnessed the humi liations, torments and destruction of life and

property wh ich no family was spared .

In August 1943 Bendin was declared "Judenrein". Ella

Liebermann-Shiber was sent together with her family to

Auschwitz-Birkenau. Her father and brothers were sent to their

death. Her mother and she survived, thanks to her artistic talent.

She painted portaits for the Germans. As the Russ ians advanced

towards Auschwitz in 1945 , Ella Liebermann-Shiber and her

mother set out on the westbound "death march" to Germany.

They survived the march and were released in May 1945. El la

Liebermann-Shiber immediately began to document her

experiences through her sketches .

She is aware of the fact that once an event or experience is

commit.ted to graphic form it takes on a universal dimension. The

image is released from the trammels of time . The sketches

incorporate event, time, and memory, thus creating historical

awareness; they will serve as a testimony for future generations

and as a deterrent to those who attempt to deny the real ity of the Holocaust.

Ella Liebermann-Shiber chooses a direct, unadorned and exact

form of representation , but which conveys "whole-hearted hate" .

Her sketches give expression to the helplessness and terror of

those subjected to the horrors. It is a voice that warns against the

evil and the bestiality in man, against the hardheartedness and

the cruelty which become uppermost in a society that has lost

touch with its humanity, for "the imagination of the murderer far

exceeds that of the victim." (Leah Goldberg).

The uninterrupted flow of drawings created by El la Liebermann­

Shiber during the years immediately fol lowing her re lease from the

Germans was the beg inning of a process of rehabil itation, a process of return to life.

Ella Liebermann-Shiber has also perpetuated the final moments of

those of our people that are, in the words of Alterman, "impri nted

in every fib re of our be ing" - a mute scream echoing from

generation to generation, a scream for life on the edge of the

abyss

AVI HURWITZ.

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Ella Schieber - next to four of her orginal paintings from 1945, which were in Poland and

were transferred to a museum in Auschwitz, where they are preserved to this very day.

They were presented to Ella - the painter - during her visit to the Auscwitz museum on

May 4.1997,

on the occasion of a special reception by the museum's director, Mgr. Jerzy Wroblewski

9 'I . ~

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"Hear 0 Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is One"

With this affirmation the Jews went to their deaths. It was shouted

in the gas chambers, the crowded trains, the wait ing graves, the

death camps.

"Hear 0 Israel" was the martyrs' last prayer, as they waited

helplessly at the mercy of the barbarians.

"Hear 0 Israel", that fe ll on deaf ears, sti ll echoes all around us.

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Every step means suffering, tears, blood, and death.

Its march through Europe brings destruction, ruin, hunger.

Its thundering sound strikes fear into the hearts of the helpless.

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The books of Freud, Max Ehrlich, Stefan Zweig, Heine, Albert

Einstein, and the paintings of many artists, were confiscated by

the Minister of Culture and Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels, for being

"decadent", and were destroyed.

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The enjoyment of heavenly, wonderful nature, that was created

by God for all mankind gardens, and forests, lakes and mountains

was forbidden to Jews. The bright and beautiful sun no longer

shone for us.

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The House of God is desecrated. All the synagogues are burning. Torah scrolls go up in fire, and

with them the human beings who can't bear the sacrilege. At

night, as the wind blows through the ruins, people stop horrified,

petrified, listening to the cries and sighs that ri se to heaven.

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One less Jew, a loaf of bread more.

September 1939. Germany invades Poland. Fear, hunger, death .

Long queues for bread.

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disappears. Here and there a body. A loaf of bread, fallen from frozen hands,

lies in the gutter.

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A search in a Jewish home.

Jews found with onions, eggs or meat will be sent forthwith to

Auschwitz as black-marketeers. The Nazi Party area commander,

in person, leads the search party. He surprises my terrified aunt

as she is doing the laundry. The commander approaches the

laundry cauldron, opens his fly and urinates into it. He discovers a

bottle of ink and pours that in too, smiling broadly, Looking at the

expression on my face, he bursts into hysterical laughter. Long

after he leaves, still rejoicing, I hear his disgusting laugh.

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Jewish property is confiscated.

Jews have no right of ownership. Objects of sentimental value

that conjure up fond memories, passed on from generation to

generation, must be handed over. Bounty for the Third Reich.

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Forced labour. Young Jews are sent to work camps, where conditions are

subhuman Deaths are a daily occurrence. The weak are

dispatched to Auschwitz. The crematorium awaits them. My

brother Alex was caught in June 14, 1942. He never returned.

On September 3rd my sister Bertha was pulled out of bed in the

middle of the night.

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The 11 year old son of the area Nazi Party boss terrifies the local

Jews. He loves to shoot and stab, accompanied by his teacher

and trainer.

When they see him, the Jews run and hide. Police Sergeant

. Mitschke terrorizes the streets of Bendin, sowing death wherever

he goes.

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Jews must get off the side walk when a German approaches.

Whole work battal ions must step down when even a single

German walks by.

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I O'lj71

.\)I'{I)11'il )1'{ 11J'lJ "nmnil;'" pm 11'1'{ ,ill1J)Jil ml''VY.l ,I)1)';' l'O-J1

.1I\)\)'Vj71Y.l illnY.l) 'Vln \)11~0)1\) 'Vl11'V ,O'11il';' l')n" :1J;'JJ 'VY.ln'VY.l N1il

Major Lindner of the Labor Office cannot demean himself by

talking to the Judenrat. He speaks to his dog: "Tell the Jews we

want a new transport for work in the Markstadt Camp."

20

MQ)or Lind ryer VOrn Arbe,'beinsob.:. (B~ ncb. ~V)) ~ HUl'\cl, 'id~ d t.m Judex; ".: '

21

.0lY.lJ Ol11i1lil JJ

.0iPlYY.l l1l) OJpJl )YJJ llill OJ1J ,0l'lP'I!P) Ol1Jl ,~1:J1 OllPI

Jews are thrown into the water.

Young and old - all the Jews are subject to scorn and

degradation by their torturers.

.1:

. lit:

Me tall

wa

1))J))11

I' ))

Q)~/)

l11N

J111N

y

0'1117' 1111 ,01'.1 ,)1nli1 )N O')PI O'11i1' 0'11)) In!)/) O'l)Jn1 O')lN 'ItJn

111:1P" )1i1 ,'nN JI'.I I!)Oil 11') Jill/)) nlJI) ')N .0il')PI O'I'.I)nl ,o'Nl1)

nOlJiI-n')) >I'lil N1i1 .1')1)) J1nl) l)PI nN 11'.1)n O1'iI l1N)1'.I ,p)1/)

ilmJiI .'iI nNl') )/)17 "1i1') N1i1 Wlil ,))!)niI1 m111wm m\!Jun O')!))

.N')!)iI) iln')~iI 111DI'.I) 'PD)JJ '11i1'J )Jll!))

Helpless and terrified, old Jews are dragged out into the streets

and their beards cruelly plucked . I remember my brother's school

principal, Rabbi Dr. Munk, having his beard plucked on a Berlin

street in the middle of the day. He went to the synagogue with a

bandaged face, and prayed. The beard was a symbol cif a Jew's

piety. If the intention was to humiliate him and hurt him to the

depths of his soul, they succeeded.

22

23

f l' n e 2 tJ 0 n ~ S P os e f L.\ r G r ~(ul p~ \O ()' ~<H' d

... f ~! . .~

... il)!m nJm)!n

p .D'l'JO) l' 'lm', ,D'Jn D',m1J Dil'1') .i1:s1JjlJ 1m)!) il!)JJ O;11i1' ))!

.On1l-< D'Y.l)~Y.l

Jon) 'lJl1 O'1,Y.lnY.l O'11il'il" :i1I)!il ~1I' :sJ 1'),)) Om)1\!! O'Y.l1J~ni1 nN

."omN

Atrocity propaganda,

Orthodox Jews are made to stand in a group. Guns,

hand grenades and knives are thrust into their hands.Thus, they

are photographed.

The photos are sent to Berlin, bearing the attached comment:

"The Jews are subversive and must be el iminated."

I ~,

o

He an(

pri l

strE

bal

pie

de,

11)1

.Oil:! 0)~1:S) pm:s 111)1? )1J "~nil? 0)11i1) O)n)lJr.l

.CJ:Jm-< )Jr.lW) IN{ 'tN{ 1 o)"~nr.l om" )r.l? - 0)11i1)

Jews are forced to pray and made fun of.

"Jews, to whom do you pray? Can't you see nobody's listening?"

24

25

.OlN,'lJJ O'J)] n10'O) :111'J )'0 ))\J 1))1

Another kind of entertainment - loosing fierce dogs on people.

Je\

"Je

ose

li1N? D'!y:mn 1'?1~ m:::l1ni .nnJjTmJ ?1?'n .n1J? i1tJN D'TIn? m

.np'1;" nn~m 'lJNJ D'iIJm;np

Even the dead may not rest in peace. Graveyards are

desecrated. The streets of Poland are paved for miles with Jewish

gravestones.

26

Fr;e~ h o~ s(.h dr} d unj "',,:".;:,:~.,.

27

ilY1Hi1 ''G!YD w::m ,i11Uni1 DDN 'Y "1lrl'N Dli11'N" i1Dt"tJi1 DY

,1n1'J D'l'1nDi1

The most horrible acts of cruelty were performed by men whose

beltbuckle caption read: "God is with us",

EVE

de~

gra

J l~)lil

Il ilm

lmlJil

mnilJ

J'mYJ

ler

e is of

'rom

id in

.l941,l'1lJ

.il'llYDJ Jl)£l~J O'll)Pil Oil'lJ'i Oil'Jl)'lIl JY .il'lJ'lIIJ O"l'll O'Jin

I)J'l ilJN O'l£lr.:l .ilym 'NJIJ O'l£lJ on O'1r.:l1Y ,D"1J'Oil ,O'lptil O'liilil

I'JN nN ilNni mJil1Jr.:l O"l'Y npi£l ,YJINil 1:1 ,il'))'O 1:1 .IYi'O' JJ JJtJ

IlN~1i1ilmN 0) .il1NnJ 1ml NJ'lI ,ilYJil mp'lll nl'nnJ'il I'l£lJ .liJnil

.illnDJ Om)il n1'il7 m7Nliil'nJr.:l

8endin,1941.

They hang two of our neighbours. Their wives and small children

are forced to look on. Their elderly parents stand motionless, their

faces filled with horror, with immeasurable suffering. Our

neighbour's son, a four-year old, stares with wide, frightened eyes

at his hanging father. His little face bears an indescribable

expression. We, too, are forced witnesses to the scene.

28

,'."b'()~ k;nd d·e.~ Ge~ho ; cAei- ~IH OU? t ~r nC::\1 \-e.,"" 'Ide.r fCl.VV\:l\e. I ctr\:~~f":'

29

l)l»J ilNl ,)\)1)) '1)il' 1Jl ilNW lY.) .ilnf:l'Oy.lil tJ)if:lr.l7 If:l)il 1IJ1)) 171il

.J»11 m1r.l ,1nf:l pl ll1l':Jr.lil ,ilnmJ ll1Ynp ,m7m Oll)l)J .llf:l11) ilm

mlr.l1r.ll)J mlJ''O 1N'::lr.lil mlJ1»f:lil . )\)1)7 ~1nr.l IN llN::lJ H)Jil N7 O'l)))r.lil

.)\)1)) Ollnf:l'Or.l 11:1» Ol))1f:lil J::lN OnJ IJ»r.l ~3P) 'lJ ,il::l1nil 3))llil)

.0117'il 7'0 omm il7N O'»:SJy') 1r.l"llV) mJ11j7 Ollll»J

The child in the ghetto becomes the family provider. Whenever

one saw a child in the ghetto one saw the eyes of a hunted

animal, wide eyes that knew only fear , death and hunger. The

adu lts dared not leave the ghetto. The little ones used all kinds of

artful methods to slip out of the ghetto and beg some bread from

the Poles for their families. These expeditions frequently ended in

the child's death.

\J

Ber

ThE

are

fac,

nei!

atr ex~

My

.1942 ,1'1))

on'::!, onN" :nll::!l 0111i1'i1 '1)' nN 1:l'JO ~OlN J)t)IJD 11))1!:! 'Ill!:! 1,0

nN::!) l)lD 'IJ'IJ P 1)1)l!:! .01llJDlll1Nl,1:l 011)1JDllnlN ."! i1Dn)Di1 nN

nOll!:! 01::!1I llN ,i1Dn)Di1 nN 01::!1I lll'N ,O"Oi1 )lln ,111i1 ,N)" :i111'IJi1D

"!on)

Bendin, 1942. Captain Franz Polter from Breslau gathers the Jews' child ren

around him and shrieks; "You wanted the war!" We look at him

uncomprehendingly. Asix year old chi ld dares to step forward.

"No uncle S.S. man. We don't want the war. We want some

bread."

30

IHR HAST DEN

I-<RIEG

",,'

.,.}'t, t"..M ";:.

'~ ,,,J~2 ...

,/ ; .

f 31

.l£1NI)0)il1n1Y.l ,1942 ,1'1lJ l£1NI)O)il 1P£lY.l .n:S1 n1:JY.l omN O',Y.l .1£)NI)0)' omp,) "I!J O'111il n1!J1'1!J

1Y o'nn)JY.l .m,Y.l 'I!J '1:1Y.l 11Y1 "! ilYI!J Y:l1 11Y" :i111:SY.l111') lWI!J OY 1Y.llY

,D'nNil ,1)nlN" :omn, l:S'N)1!J 1nN' ,0ilY.l O)))I!J O'11nnl!JY.l l'il N"

1Y.l)J N' N1il .ilnlJil O'WY.l 1m N' '1!J"l!Jil 111il ."Ul)l)lpni111)1,nl!Jil

)JOJ

Bendin, 1942, in the Gestapo cellar .

My three uncles receive terrible blows. The Gestapo officer

stands, watch in hand: "Another 15 minutes l" More blows.

Mutilated beyond recognition, two of my uncles were freed after

signing a statement that they had been drunk and had a fight. My

third uncle never returned. He succumbed to the beating.

0:

no

Ben

Cap

arOL

uncI

"No

brei

.1942 \:>OUlN:112 ,1'1l:l

.~'nI!J1N :,:11il I!Jn':l .' )1Dill!Jn') .\:>'1:l0il l!J ' )Y.l )N O'I!J'UY.l O'l1il'il )J

16,000 .D'11il'il nN O')'lr.JY.l 'jJO)'1!J\:>1jJ1 'lOY.l ,mjJ11il ,,",1 ,O'Y.l1jJil

nm1Y£lil1 D')jJlil .~' 111!J1N? D'r!)I!J) ilJnJY.l111 ~'J1)0)IJ ,1'1)) D',YilY.l

NY.lN 111N" :m1:S1'~'m)Oil nN OY1) ,)),1 'O'Y.l1jJil .N'1) n11D ?N O'Y01)

"l ill?' nN ilI'nOil

Bendin, Aug. 12, 1942.

All the Jews are forced onto the sports fie ld. Mass deportation to

Auschwitz. Commissar Dreier, Dr. Messner and Kutsch insky

oversee the "selection". 16,000 from Bendin , Sosnowitz, and

Dombrowa are despatched to Auschwitz. The elderly and the

babies go to a horrible death. Dreier eats his sandwich and

shouts: "Which mother is hiding her baby?"

32 ': . I

-1LAtJ(;v.)T ~41: - Be.¥)ch. l -) . ., ~ S; E C'\ Gt\.-tS,> I: e c\ \'t ... p,\c 9 n (u .... h '1, Arhe; f:: S f: I'nS'Cl ~ i 1) ' '. I.,. / 1<eSf.tV

. 2}. ,A~s~; d h~ O(1 . -. ~ , ~

33

The elderly, chi ldren and cripples are driven cruelly on.

NY.li

Benl

All tl

Aus(

over

Dom babi,

shou

"') 0))

)),'P)J

nnn

lked

be

. '111)):1 "m1))1D"j) j))lllj)

.O)~Nli1 l1) ~)! n 1"')1:1 m~l) Ol!))N

Shooting in the back of the neck was popular with the Nazis.

Hundreds of thousands were murdered in this fashion .

34

35

.1j7 ~11n 01'

mj7l ))I!! .nmmJ 11)J~) n1'1liP O'I!!) nn"n ,n1D11Y.l O"1'J ,n1Y.l11'Y

.;'''1'J n1i1) lN~l' 1Y'J .1il')n nnn

A cold winter 's day. Jewish women are compelled to march through the streets naked

and with their arms held up. Snow and ice underfoot. They will be

shot in the forest.

Sho

Hun

J1Jt)1\)

)irn'J

liPnJ

';'J1Y.l1

JS,

The "tree of life" in the hands of the Nazis became the "tree of

death",

36

I , ,

Heldentu b:{\ \Yv\

Ho) f''to L

,...; .,;'

.,0" / '"

7 A/

37

.1942 ,~')ll010

.'11i1'il O'?lmrn')

nl'N'Or.l ?Y O'Or.lY1r.l ,n1lJlr.Jil 1r.l O'Y1pl O'?1nil .0'll!lr.l O'?1nil-'nJ

.D1'11IJr.l1Pil Oil? il!l~y') 0'0 ,~'11'OlN? O'?)1):)l

Sosnowitz,1942.

A Jewish hospital. The hospitals are evacuated. The sick are torn from their beds,

loaded into vans, and transported to Auschwitz, to the

crematorium.

lil O'I!!)

J'i:11Yil

md

then

.nllJl'il n'J ,1942 ,VJ1JtJ1V

.11JnilY.l O'JJI!!1Y.ll O'iJ JI!! m~':lJ mpl)'ni1 O'VJJ1Y.l nllJl'il npJnm

.1i1 ilmN il'l~:l nllJ)lJ m .i1I1nl!!il m1Y.lil n')1JY.l OilJ il~:lY.l ilIJY.lJ

.il~:liilY.l1 mmJll!!ilY.l 01il nN ~lIJI!!J O':lJN) O"11il';' m'nNill O'N~nil

Sosnowitz, 1942. The maternity ward.

The infants are wrapped in pillow cases and thrown out of the

window. Their mothers are led downstairs to a black death-car.

The doctors and nurses wash the blood off the tables and floors .

38

39

.nu1Y.l milY.l)Nil .il))'·,))) n1il7 mN::!1Y.l1 1)))7 m7)1Y.l m1il O)\!I)

.n::!)7 o)pnn\!lY.l1 nm!lV mpl O))J)J1JnY.ll))1)J lil))IJ)) O)1)1)Jil

Jewish women who are pregnant are taken into the forest and

shot. The embryos in their stomachs kick for a few minutes, then

are still forever.

.il£

Sosr

The

wind

The I

1942,1'1)::1

1)1 0'1;))

~ 'l!1£l'n::1

n?J ?0

.??J lJ?

~n!lil 1'::1

)'l!D NDN

Nazis ,

thole

Itainer

lIy, he

nts to

3nough

j'11N? )!l')lil 'j''l!)lil )n1?)il DP::1 ,ilJnDil 1P!lD ?'l! m? n1?)i1il D1'-nmD

,0il::1 ill' ilnD'l!il ?)I::11 D'1)il' O'1?' ill'l!)I

A birthday present for the camp commander's 10 year old son,

Jewish babies are thrown into the air, and he shoots them,

40

41

bis \2 JC(hr~v\

.1942,1)1)J

1n Y1Y.l mN::ll' n1:Jl milY.l)N .0)::lNl? I)IJY.l? '0) i11'lJy-o)n'lJ ?)) 1Y 0)1?)

OJ)ilN illil ,O)'lJ11n il)1Y.l'lJ) O))nl'lJ P ,1DPil )111-P .N)3nY.llnN 'lJ)!:J)nJ

O)JIJY.l )l)N 1N ,OlY.ln!:Jil 1'J ?N n!:J,il l)1N? IJlJ1Y.l N)il .iln!:J'lJY.lil )):J ?J ?'0

3J'lJ? il::ll1 N? ?NPln,/l :01 ?)P3 131? I)IJN'lJ ,)? Y11' )J 'Om? N)il .??J 1J?

l))Y ?N 1nN D3Y.l ?IN ."N3N ?'0 i1D1Y.l:J 1)'lJ)? il::ll1 ?NPln1 ,O)Y.ln!:Ji11'3

.i1? YY.l'lJ'il? )l?Y'lJ In)N YlJ'lJY.l NY.lN

Bendin, 1942.

Children under the age of 12 are to be handed over to the Nazis.

Many mothers frantically search for a hiding place. My little

cousin, aged 2 years 8 months, was greatly loved by the whole

fami ly. Much to his displeasure, he is hidden in a metal container

among the coals. Knowing that it is forbidden to speak loudly, he

whispers: "Yechezkel doesn't want to lie in the coal. He wants to

sleep in daddy's bed". But one look at his mother's face is enough

to persuade him that she must be obeyed.

At Jev

3rms.

il'()n?l '()),11n1N ?Y )ll)N ill,()) N)il .1NlP'):l:l ll,())~l .P1I:lt))?N):lr.J il,()N

. )1?) ?'() 01il 1m . )1) ?Y'() 01il llN ~mN N? O?W? - il?)?il ?J ilr.J~Y?

This woman is from Bialystok. We met in Birkenau. We slept in the

same bunk, and she kept on whispering all night "I'll never wash

this blood off my hands. It's the blood of my child".

42

With coarse brutality chi ldren are torn out of their mothers' arms.

Thi

sar

th i~

,],1)J

) l)Yil

)il ;'J

nlY.lY.l

)Y.lOJ

1'Y.llY.J

D)l))

e

.1942,],1))

il;')YJ nl1~ 1DjJil il'~ItJ1l .D))1IU O)Y~Y.lN O)~N)il O)DjJ1) 1l1lY.l1)il np~jJNJ

.1?'l!

nN ,iln nN n;'D1) ,n)lnIJil 1JnD'l! ,1Y.l)N .m)? jJn'l!1Y.l il'?IJ1) - il))l)

1m ,1\))Jil" :nNl1jJ1 nmnlil ll1 n:lllDY.l 1m il~l ,il)\))\)jJil iln1)il

.m?IU il'?IJ))

.D)))J1) )IU 1'))Y Oil D)!)l1\))J1 D)nr.l )J ,il))N J) DIU N) IU)N

Bendin, 1942.

During the dai ly deportations the Nazis resort to various tactics.

The infant Yossele cries in his crib - a shot silences him forever.

His mother picks him up and runs through the street shouting:

"Look at my Yossele".

No one pays any attention. Death and madness are daily

companions.

44

'\. A u9wJ" ,,~'LJ) II. J ud

45

.1943 1)01)1N:J l,P1))

, O'11i1lY.l i1llvl1'Yi1

,O'N1JnY.m ,Oi1'ml)l)J 11n)J omN O'ii)) . ~'l1'l!1N) - O'l1i1'i1 ):J

O')J'))!l O'Mi1 .00v)JJ i1i1l - 1'1 wm 1l'N'l! l)J ):J .))i1 n)l))!)J1 o'~mr.))J

O"))i ,)N)J'l!)J 'l!Ni - P)Jl)J 'l!Ni ,m'N'l!)J ))! omN O'O')J)!)J .mNI))JOJ

Ol)J' i11'l!)! W)JJ .m~)) 1n)l Ol)J)!i1) i'l!~N 1:J ,)N)J'l!)J Oll))1 - )l)Jl)J

.O'1ml O'1J'l!1 n)J11n Vi .m1~i1 N)) 0'11'

Bendin . Aug 1, 1943.

The city is "Judenrein", free of Jews I

All the Jews have been dragged out of beds, shelters, ce llars,

attics and shipped off to Auschwitz. The laggards are shot. The

bodies pile up on the streets, later loaded on to trucks, head to

the right - feet to the left, then feet to the right and head to the

left. The shooting goes on for 1 0 days, leaving in its wake ruin

and destruction.

Bene

Durir

The i

His r

"Loof

No 0

com~

ive

:0

O'lnNl .il)lllil )Jil,ll)lYfnp-nn nnillD ,n1)I£lJ n1£l~l,O')I£lJ nnp

1r.:l1Y O))nil)IY'O .O't)£lnl 0));) - )'Ylil N)) )3N ,D))n6 nN )'~il;' 'Op ;'J3

.nJ;'D

Double walls, double floors, underground tunnels - everything is

discovered. They clutch at a straw - to no avail. The clock of life

comes to a standstill.

46

47

\rQ30J. ~ \vv, Du ~~(": .s Or u 3lt "1\ ~ fL VO Ii tv\ \A \: ~ \1. (h \f n 0\

N7 .O)'t!lNil 7J nN 1))\:Jil7 il71]) 17) mJ) .1j/l1J 7J7 illJtJ 1Pil n1j/1l)n

.j/lnl N1il J1171 ,17)il )!l 7)J lJ n)lil7 mnn iln)il ONil .ill)lJ ilmil

.1j/l1J 7JJ I))JDJ ilnlj/1l il)1l11)

Babies were a danger to every hideout. Their crying could give

away all the others. There was no choice. The mothers had to

smother them with a pillow. This tragedy happened in many

hideouts.

1

Do

dio

COl

48

111N 0)' J)

-J ';'1':1 31

)11 :111)1Dil

)N1:1nD IN

Jlil'111111

m!! .1);'))J

O'lJ' '):11

"" :il~I!!Nil

lil 11:1 il11:1

mmNJ)!

111' 1nlND

nll!! I)!DJ

)D'ill!!lJI!!

)!DI!! )!l1~J

IJp:110n;'

n l1N P'O

~lJl!! ill!!l!!

):1 10 0l'J

.'11'N 1NlJ

'N ,il~I!!Nil

Ilil Jl1)DJ

1il .0nnN

I)'N" ::1:1'"

) 11)) N1il

. l1N 110J

il il"~'::!il

~ O'Jm)il

;'mlJ11)l

l;'N IN';,

J 1N';, l1N

I J)lN 'J:1

ll!! 11!!')1il

;P)!Dil nN

1 J1/:I 1D)!

N JNPln'

)!1~ l)nlN

Evry day your'e hunted, every day your hiding

place, Death is always imminent. On the night of July 31, 1943, we awoke to the sounds of shooting, crying, shouting: "Jews out", We ran bowed across the yard to our hiding place, It was like a

tomb under a garbage bin, My mother and father, my little brother

and I, and myoid aunt. We sat pressed together, knees bended,

so there would be room for all of us, We heard them herding the

Jews together and sending them off, We heard shots, and child~en's wailing, We heard our neighbor, Dr, Rechtschaft shout:

"My children, my children", then a shot, and silence, I hear little Luscha crying, the 5 year old daughter of my teacher, Mrs. Inwald.

For ten days, shooting and shouting. Bodies are thrown

on the garbage bins. Their blood drios down on us, Later the

bodies are removed and lime spread around. We almost choked.

The thirst was unbearable, Suddenly we heard steps

approaching, the slat over our heads moved, and a loaf of bread and bottle of water were thrown down to us in our grave. The Polish caretaker risked his life to save ours Six weeks he fed us while we lay cramped in our harrow grave with the body of our dead

aunt. On Sep. 10, 1943 we heard a voice: "I'm a German, There are

Jews hiding out around here. Come with me, and I'll show you the

Pole who gave them food". The police pass our hiding place and

approach our house. Several Jews are dragged out and beaten,

Then the Pole was brought out and beaten half to death. He was taken away and never seen again, We went out and surrendered, We were led to the ghetto, where we were put to work creating order out of chaos,

The terrible fear, the crack through which we saw the blue sky, were

things of the past. My little brother Leon no longer had to

scavenge for food at night. One night we heard shots. A hiding

place had been discovered. We thought Leon WOUldn't return, but he

did. He had hidden under a mattress. The Germans walked over the mattress but didn't feel him. He was 14. He brought food and the jacket, little Yechezkel got for his secound birthday.

,.'"".

Yechezkel used to stand before the mirror, smooth the jacket with his

little hand and say: "Yechezkel is pretty, Yechezkel is new". Yechezkel is

gone, and his little jacket, dirty and tom, lines our hideout. Now we march,

guarded by police with bayoneted rifles, to an unknown fate,

49 pJI!! il:)l)J .0)))')!il1))) 1'Y.ln m1Y.lil ,inN NnntJ 01' )J 1~1i) ilnN 01' )J

ilP)!~iltJ1 m))ltJ I'JJtJ ,m'iltJ ))l11))nil ,1943 \)Ou)NJ 1-) ')))J 31

>,')il)) il!))!)1!! il~"J i~nil nN m~n) )In)~il ."!il~1nil O'11i1,11 :mJ1Y.lil

')N 11DPil mN l'tJ'N I'::IN .il!)IUN nlN) nnntJ i::lp ptJ ill il'il .))N)JntJ )N

O1PtJ il'illJ pl 'J ,m!))!)J O))JiJJ ,O'!))!)I!! ))JIU' ))))J - mplil 'n1m

m'i' 1il )))!tJl!! .0mN o'n)l!!tJ1 O'1)il'il nN O'!)O)N 1~'J )))!Y.l\!) .))))J)

lnN) Jnp-Jnp ,\)!)NI!!\)Ji i)\)P11 ,))mJI!! np)!~ nN )))!tJl!! .0'1)' 'JJ)

,m::l))tJ m\)pil ill!!)) nN n)!tJ11!! ')N .\)Pl!! J)\!)) ,il))i' "!'1)' 1'1)'" :il!)I!!Nil

.mp»~) n))i' O')!tJ1IU OltJ' illlU)! .1)N)))'N m::l) ,))m1Y.l )I!! I!!r.Jnil m ilm

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.1'0 )W!) il!)I!!Nil niN )) ,n))N\!)tJ )) omtJil nN )O'tJ»il in)) imNtJ

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.))) P'~il) Nmil )nil ~N .))'nl!! N)) )))IN N) m)') il\!)))I!!) O'tJ' ill!!))1!!

iJ'J .\)O)il ))'))!tJ m)il) ,il!)I!!Nil lnN )N nip il)N .O'1)!~ )))!Y.ll!! )!n!))

mJil )I!! ml!!il I')))!)il .)))I!! lJpill1n )N ,))')N )J)I!!1i1 OltJ pnpJ) on)

.)mp1::!tJ::I ))) 11» m)!nIU ilIUIU .J»iJ m1Y.ltJ ))mN )'~i11 )))n nN P'O

.lnil l)m ))n111 mn 0» O')::IiDtJ ))JJ\!) n1))nl!! ill!!l!!

1')tJl) ')N ,O'11i1' O'lnnOtJ 1NJ l'tJlUtJil" :)))! tJIU 1943 i::ltJD!)OJ 10 01'::1

lnN) nlp O'1)!~ ."1HtJ O'1)il') P!)'OI!! ')))!)il nN OJ) ilNiN l'n'N )Nn

.O'!))!)I!! ))!'!)1i1 ))')Jl!!tJ O'1nN .)m'J )I!! '11~il ~)N) )J'l!!tJil OillN ,il!)I!!Nil

O'1)il') 0)) ))) )!"Ol!! I')))!)il i~n) l1))lN .01!!tJ omN ))'J)il mJY.lJ

')))!)il "?O'1)il'il O'innotJil P'il" :))))) 1ni~) n~l mJtJ )::I'P N)il .0'inN

."01)J »1)' '))'N li::l1 »1)' '))'N" :::1::1"

'1J )\)')) ))mN ))'::I1i1 .))N~'1 1)))J) .0)1))) 11)) ilNl1 N)) OlUtJ 11)1 N)il

.~')1IU1N) 1111'»~il Ol\)J ,mJH)!il O'11i1'il mi'1 nN i10)

O))tJlUil no'!) )N il!)IUNil lnN 'Jln 1,1 \)JtJil lil)ln) NY.l1!! ilNi))i1 il"!)'~il

J))n il'il' N) )N') 1\)Pil 'nN .iJ»il n)m) )J!)il ,P)n ))) pN ilJI!! O')1nJil

N~' ilJ\!) mnnNil O)J!)J )J)N ))in)J )'I!!il) '1) ip))Jill)ntJ ))m) 1))!

1))! ilNi) N)I!! min ,O'11i1' N)tJ ip)n ))') .n))i' )))!tJl!! ,)lm'1 )N )N')

»')il )N') .0'Jip O'i'ill 0)1»~ )l)!tJ ,pnn\!)il )Jil il!!NJ .0)1))) )N') nN

N) IN 11nmil )) )Ji1 O')tJi)il .111m) nnnY.l innOilIU I'!)'O) )J)N ')::1

0) )J)Nil O)! 1n' N'Jil O»!) .14 P il'il )N') .))nnnY.l innOY.l N1i1\!) )I!!')iil

1'Y.ln )Np~m .l)\!)il 1n1)1i1 0))) )J'p 1n)NI!! ,1I?Pil )Npm' )I!! )')!Y.lil nN

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.)J11' N) )in )N O'Jn O)! O'i\))\!) '))))J O'1)!)~ ))mN

I \ (

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.nl'I)JY.lNJ1 ml)!pJ ,nnnNJ 1mN 1IlnIJil ,1)l) )l~Y.l N~Y.lllIU il11PnJ

.1lNllp OlJnlJ 1)l~N .1)1)!~ n0U OlN~m - OlJDl Ol~~m~Y.l DIU mpY.l ))J

m~1) nN .illil 11IJN 1)) . IUtJlU)1 I l 1N) ~1)!) ,m-(~)1 IJ))lil) 1))l Oil

.nn~nJ 1~IIU nm1)!!lil

.ill lY.ll) - )nl)il .nl'lDY.l ))! 1IJY.l)!1il1 il1l~PJ 1I1NJ 11)!il l))!J O)~~nil ))

140 Jews, the last in Upper Silesia, were taken for clean up work.

We found terrible destruction, blood, and filth. In almost every

home, we found bodies of dead infants, covered with flies. The

mothers did not want to take them to Auschwitz, and they hoped

someone would find the abandoned babies, hidden in chimneys,

ovens, bathtubs, wherever. When we were hiding under the

garbage, how we had envied the flies, who could come and go,

Ily free ly in the Iresh air and sunl ight. The bodies of the infants

were burned in the yard. Whatever objects 01 value that were

found were loaded on trucks and sent to Germany.

50

I: "

\ ' II

'I

I i

51

'De I'" \~/\' II t L \.l YI') L e ben I.A h l nch Q ide t () I C. h t d \ Q. M " 1; t \;.l .. ,

When faced with death, the will to live wells up all the stronger.

W

he

sc

ov gc

fly

WE

fOl

nnN

1:)~}lJ

1I!JN)

,O~))

)1»'J

9

the

)N~ 0)}l11') O)I!)).'I:) 0)1);1'il 1 }l11) N) O)I:)Nil .}l11) N) )iU )N O)'lI,UD

.011)il)il ),U )}I ))))il nN mno iJ) )'lI))'lIill"iil )\)))'lI .0mN O)))Jm

Deported to an unknown fate. Unknown? No. The Jews sense

their destination. Hear thee, 0 Israel Your fate has been sealed

52

53

,iJ~))J iJ~111NJ Ol~NliJ ?Y 1TIPJ "mJ1iJN"iJ ,)11iJ? iJN~1iJiJ m11~D TInN

mn11PiJ 11) 1JPiJ TIN .1JmiJ omN 1Jp 11TI ?N iJl 111J iJTIDiJiJ iJTIliJ

,m?) )YD OllW 11:1Y) l ~)Nl mn11PiJ .P)YD nJ1iJ 111N ~Y m, .OD~YJ

)IN ,OlY1~~ p1 op)n ,OlmiJ op)n .0mN m1~lp iJl111 mmD 1'ON)

llJpl 01J1'O ,iJ1)lYiJ )Y .11JiJ 1m ?N m)iJD 1?~l,~\J1 01'Ol,011J) ,0)1)

.iJTIDiliJ 1m 1nN) mJ1 TIWI!! 1W ilY11!! ,ilD1Nil il11YD ,onn 011YJ

One of the most "popular" methods for executing Jews

throughout Europe was by having them dig a mass grave and

then shooting them as they walked across a plank laid over the

grave. Many were only wounded, and there was movement in the

grave for many hours.

DE thE

3y to

o'yt))J il~1l'N ':Jnl ?JY.l O'1) il ' .01W'J:J:J O'tJ)n1 ,mY.lil:J ?IV mmjl

.00)il')il ?N - jll1'NY.l ,il jll'?:J1D ,~'))IV)N l)1'J)

Cattle cars packed with people. Jews from allover Europe are on

their way towards Auschwitz, Treblinka, Maidanek - to hell.

54

55

lJ ,pmr.n mNl'il l1n? mm11 ilDl\!!lil .il))ll ilYll ,Ol:S1n?l Ol!)!)m:SD

."l111!!1N? l'1ill1 .,llN ,on

Crowded, sweating, wailing. Heavy breathing. No air. The way to

Auschwitz

56

Predator

57

.o)Jn::nJ'1)J'()i1

The gateway to mass murder.

! I

Prec

DnI-<

11n::l

11)1)n

Ji1 )J1

We

3.

we

.1944 lN1)):J IS ,~)ll\1)lN

OD1Y.l1N 11N:J O)INlD O)))\I)il .0)))\1)) nnpllD 1NlPl):J:J O))\I):JJil nnnN

)'N\I) ,~n\l) 01N l\IJ:J )\1) n)lil,1\1))il .m:JnNil »l)D m:n1!)il Pl» nnil)D

mN1!)p O))!) .('(111\1)lN) H'UPl':J lD11il il)nD )J )) ~Jn ,1l)!)D I))D'il)

O'p)nD .J@ 'l!Nlil )) ill):Jn::l mnm) ))))) m)N ,lm1N m)JpD mpJ

.1)1))D O'»IP) 11)Pil mN1 'IN .n) 1m' :mD .mlD) 1N o))n) - )m)N

.1)\)N) nnl1n JNJ mp»l,O)))1N mp»~ .1W ilNlm N) O)W)

Auschwitz, Jan. 15, 1944.

The crematorium chimneys at Birkenau reach up to the sky. The

sky is lit up by the reddish light cast by the huge flames which leap

from the mouth of the chimney. The smoke, the unmistakeable

stench of burnt human flesh, bears down upon the whole of

Birkenau Concentration Camp. Frozen faces greet us, blows from

rubber stancheons fallon our heads and back. The "selekzia" - to

life or to death.

My father and little brother are torn away from us. We shall never

see each again. I hear horrifying shouts, shouts of fear .

58

59

mY.JlllY mlY.l1Y l)nJN ,lltJY.l) 'ljl llY-'~!:ln ,1)l!:lU )YY.J OlYllp l)llD nN

,))1) l"JJ ,"illlNtJ"il .7)1)il lPY.Jil o"pnY.J 1J'lj D1j1Y.Jil ,"illlNtJ"il llnJ

D1'ljll.il ll1N O)'lj il)l) ,1)l)N ll1n ))'ljil ,ilnm) O'mn!:l mn)11 n1l1)n

,m))jll n1:JY.l il)1)Y.l ill\JljllllJil J)l

Our clothes are torn off us, Valuables must be handed over, We

stand naked in the "sauna" room, the place where the great

selection takes place, The doors and windows of the sauna, a

large building, are wide open, The snow penetrates to where we

are standing, The registration takes an entire night, and the

bureaucratic process is carried out to the accompaniment of

blows and curses,

0;

Au: ThE sky

fror

stel

Birf

rub

life

My

seE

3S is

,>,'IU i1N~m n)vIU - n1Y.l~ ,v?n '>')IU) o)?n?n "mIU '>')IU ,)))1))?:1 '>')IU

- n)1l0N? mJ~)i1 nn>,)) O)IU) ,n)>':1IJi1 )JnPIU) nN ))TIlNIJ 0';)1)) ,O)IU)

,O)'~OIJ?

Blond hair, dark hair, smooth hair, curls and braids - a full sack of

women's hair, They're depriving us of our natural femininity,

Women and girls become inmates, numbers,

60

An ·der DEUTSCJifN

'.'

. 5 ~HA rZKAMMER BERliN ~ '$) . ...

61

llN lll!)Yil) 11J )illil l)ll!) llN OlliJW ,1!llI!)11 Ol\J) ,n11mil 111l!l 1mD .11!)1)l!)il l11li1

Gold teeth are extracted. Gold from the mouths of the corpses is

collected before burn ing, to enrich The Third Reich.

! I

l

- .

Blon

wom

Worr

.i1lmm

1m) 1}nD)1») »JIJ1D 74349 ,:JODil .ill)::lil n)!,jI) )1) l::l)J ilIV)),D ))1'(

)J n1IV») )J jln11il ,Olil n1'( il::l),D IlDl )1'( i1I1nIV ,Hil il)1nJil1l1il .lDl

.illil')))il )) )Jil,lnIV) )1:J )n1:JJIV

I feel my arm ripped aside. The number 74349 is forever

embedded in my blood. This blue ink, which has seeped into my

blood, accelerates its flow, pressing me to do whatever is in my

power to reconstruct everything on this paper.

62

63

. nn)vD) nnnD mOm1 nnD1» llN ,ilD'N mN)D .O'l'JD llmN O'lil\)D

l'ON 1)) ,O'O!)il n)D'O nN O')JVD ilny .IV Oy!) - on oy!) ,nnnN m!)'\)

.illnDil

We are deloused. We are pushed, terrified, into the shower.

A few drops, now hot now cold, and then we receive striped

clothes, the dress of a concentration camp prisoner.

,,\; j,.: ' .

I feel m'

embedd

blood, a

power te

I' 1~))J

!lDil'O

l')'I'J

'J1JJ1

d rman

."lnmn tJ) lNJ ! ?J1Nm tJ'1UDil ,i1)''Oil 11n - tJ:J?'O ilmDil tl1jJIJ lNJ"

nnlm mil11nJ .1l?'O 'O)11il nN ,1'1~il nN ill1DDil1)? ilN1D il?N tJ'?'DJ

)'J .il\)?)! '~nJ '11'l1 jJ1?Jil .1ln'O'O? jJ'!lt)ll? nJ))nil ,nDmm ilJ'D'O

l)J'1il illnIJ? l))'Oil ,1NljJl'JJ tJ''O)il illnIJ 1m .tJ'1~ tJ'?'J'O '0' tJ''O)11il

.~'11'01N

"Here's where you live, eat, and sleep. Here you will die". With

these words we are shown to our bunk. There's a dirty blanket for

six of us sharing a space. The block is engulfed in near-darkness.

Narrow aisles separate the bunks. We are in the women's camp

at Birkenau, near Auschwitz.

64

65

01JnY.J ,mnY.Jil J)nlJ 01P)7J 1:)7 11)tJY.J lY.l1Y mnY.Jil 7J ,on mlY.J1Y 171J

ml1tJNil nll:)O nN ol1on ,illln'O illlY.JJ'O il'01J7il ,il11)Y.J'llil nnp:)Y.Jil'O

m'OjJ1J 011)1'OJ ,OlY.J1N l1jJJ 0):)7N 011Y.l1Y my 'I! l'OY.JJ .mN):)pY.Jil il1J1YJ

.1p:)1Y.J - nnyn 011JlJJ)

We all stand to attention , The inmates of the entire camp stand

according to camp blocks, We wait for the black-cloaked German

commandant to complete her frozen-eyed counting of the

prisoners, Thousands stand for hours in the frightful cold, with

chattering teeth and trembling knees. Roll call.

nm

m:

"Her

the" six (

Nan

at B

mil)])

n1):1'l

i1 .1J:I

from

en

ith

lapse

\ '4,1

O'11i1' O')Y.lN - i1lnD ,)I'll 1') .ill1:1)1) n11)11~ llN mm1n '11')Jl i1I''OJ

m)l)))) mJl~)I O'l£l:l O'D))) ,il£lll'N mD'J )JD 11',lil omN ,0'0 ')111'

)'D,nil" . ,'ll'OlN:I "11'llN" n'Omnnil )I£lD )N n11)11~ llN .n1l')1

ill')I~ )I,m'O) n')~D ll'N'O 'D )J ."! )ND'O ,)ND'O" ,l£1NPil ml~ ,"! ilD'l£l

.il l')I~il )I,m'O) ','O£lN"'n)Jl ))'Oil pJll ,)lil ')1)) .mJD )JpD ,ill'nN

m~l1V n'Onnil-n'J) llnV'lJJ "D'O'Dil llmN ,£110 ,)I'Oil nN ll,:l1)IJ

mD'OD llmN il£l')nD m)l'O 1Z m ill1:1)1 O1m .il',D ,n''ON,il l£1NPil llmN

.S-4-3-Z-1,S-4-3-Z-11lmN O',£I1V Jl'O .ilJnDil')I'O 1') il)')il

Singing, and to the accompaniment of an orchestra, we march off

to work. Sad faced and heavy hearted.

Jewish musicians from allover Europe play happy tunes. We

march to the munitions factory "Union" in Auschwitz. "Left, left"

shouts the kapo. Whoever misses a step is rewarded with blows.

The snow sticks to the wooden shoes, making it hard to keep

pace. They count us as we pass the gate, again as we enter the

plant, and after a 12-hour work day we are relieved by the night

shift, counted again as we re-enter the camp.

66

At ,\s~e(\ kornt,,(~ndo (I t

67

,1) 111,))'0) l)?il nn)J OllJN )1ntJ? 01)):Sr.J )IN n?)nn1 OYI:J N??

01Y:S0 n1tJDr.J Oll?)lil .1l1?Y n1:m)il 1N n1miiil J ,Yil lJyn ,nn1r.JilY.l1

11r.JY? OW?:Sr.J OllN OllltJNil lr.J 0 1)1 .01)JJ) 01N10Nii 1lJl)tJr.J .n1?)11

.11>' Olr.Jp N?) ,1JJ 01?01l Oil .1J)

For no reason or useful purpose, women carry heavy stones from

one pile to another through the mud and pit-holes. The wooden

shoes are either too big or too small. Our feet are covered with

wounds and blisters.

The Kapos and dogs surround us. Many of the prisoners collapse

and rise no more.

o

n1Y.l'

Sin~

to ltv

Jew

man

shot

The

pac!

plan

shift

::InIJil

»)nil)

. 'lin) -lW JJ) nY::InIJ ,1nil n1n)J ,01)I)\)IJlilil »):lIJ In:l,ilmn-nn ,l':l n1n)J

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Hard labor, malnutrition, fear of death, work in the harsh weather,

freezing cold and pouring rain, and merciless sun on the open

road.

68

69

'<.I' 01' ':J .0'), mnl1p J1>I)1n N'i1 .0'1))i1 ''<.I i111:1Yi1 01Pr.J N'i1 i1J~nr.Ji1

i111i1 o~n ,m~'~r.J' Om11 O'I))i1 .m'<.l1n) i111:1Yi1 m~1:1p TIN ~"ni1'

.0i1ll'Yr.J Y11'<.1r.J )Y,i1 ,0mmr.J 0"11) O'tJ~i1 '1)) '<.11:1,

The men work in the stone quarry. Many fall exhausted. New

replacements every day. The men look like monsters, their

emaciated bodies clothed in oversized striped garments, their

eyes imploring with hunger.

Hard

freezi

road

'N nilYI

ill~il)O,

'J) 1))J

))1 'l!)J

~ ,ill'D '

rei"

ngue

!ans

'm'1' ,0mY.lJ OY.l~Y nN rnnl!! Oil .n)Y.lI!!1nY.lil 11~il )N 1:S1 O'J1 O'1'ON

,1l'Dil ilillil .il1n:S )J) illJ1Y.l 1'Dn ,Olln mnn ilN)Y.l mYl iln'il16-il nJ

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.'mN ilYY.l1!! NJ 1JJ N'il1N ,m'JJl

Many prisoners run to the electrified fence, In death they are

free. I had a 16 year old friend, full of life, always ready to laugh,

Hanka Kaminer, pretty, vibrant, broke out of line and ran to the

fence. I shouted, I cried - too late,

70

71

- lJ1il 'Onl!) .")Jllil il~)))Y.l lmp11" :Ol'Oll1il 1Y.l m,l!) OlY.llN np)J1

.il l :Jp7tJ

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.ilnY.lil7 n11Y.l)Jmil l!)tJY.l ilJlnY.l om N77 .n1m l'Onl!) - il7NY.l'O .il)lY.ll

A cry of fear issues from the bed bunks. "Dr. Mengele is here l"

That means a "selection". Everyone to the sauna. Naked, tongue

out , hands up. Dr. Mengele's finger points left, right. Left means

death.

Mercilessly, more and more are sent to the left.

,1)1)

Man'

free.

Hanf

fenel

'il Y'lil

riven

.i1lnr.lilr.l D7Y'il7 1il 'l!ltJr.l 7Y .1r.ll'!ll )il'l!ltJr.l .\}7r.l'il7 1ll )'N n1JJl1jJ7

.n17J1r.l1 n1!ljJ1r.l 1il

There's no escape. Their numbers have been li sted .

They are surrounded and led away.

72

V~rurt€ lll: zum To d.

73

,ilVil nD'Olil ,lJ1Nil 1P!lDil - OlV)'Pil nm'Oil nnn .)nnNil J''Oil yl)il

.OPl1IJmp' n1nl1pil nN Ol'OllD - Oillll1Y1 l'VPl1 nnp!lDil

The last stage follows. Under supervision of the Nazi

commanders: Hauber, Hesse and Dreksler, the victims are driven

into the crematorium.

n n

1

)rt.

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)1)" m!lllVDil m,'nnD iln~ .N::1il m)IVD' O'PlD

Day and night the crematorium devours countless human bodies. In their thousands they await their turn. Jews from allover Europe patiently await their death. The Hungarian Jews believed what they were told - that they were going to a work camp. A period of more than 6 weeks in packed cattle carriages, without food or air , taught them differently. Many died before reaching Auschwitz. The train , with all its passengers, drives straight to the

crematorium area. Through the fence I can see a mother

buttoning her child's coat. Is she afraid he will be cold in the

crematorium? Jews from Holland and Germany stand there like children. Incredulous. It cannont be. Is it possible that they burn people? It must be a bakery. Bread is being baked for them. In the gas chamber waiting rooms there are clothes' hooks. The victims

undress and carefully hang their clothes on the numbered hooks.

They are told on no account to forget the hook number.

They receive a towel and a piece of soap. The soap is made of stone, but most of them do not notice.They are taken to the shower, the doors close. Instead of water cyc lon gas filters down. Shrieks pierce the walls, inhuman shrieks, growing weaker and weaker until they finally cease. The doors are opened exposing a confusion of limbs. The gas chamber is cleaned in preparation for the next batch. The crematorium begins its feast.

74

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n"'I!yn VO) )Jil .0'm))J )N)Y.l' nny'I!) .0')'ilN) l):Jil' 01N-')) )'I!

.ilDn)Oil

Everything is used for the benefit of the Reich. The bones are

crushed to powder and used as chemical fertilizer. Human skin

becomes lamp shades. Hair fills mattresses. All for the war effort.

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To save gas the villains invented new ways to commit mass

murder ,

76

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./I'NY.l 'lJ11nJ O'lYil

The crematorium doesn't work fast enough, according to

authorities in Berlin. They demand that the rate of disposal be

increased. So bodies are burnt in open pits in Birkenau. The

bodies are laid out carefu lly, alternating with layers of logs. The

whole forest is afire. Children, their heads smashed, are thrown

into pits and covered with lime.

Everywhere there is kil ling and burning. To drown out the fearful

cries loud music is played: "How beautiful it is in the month of

May".

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Prayer books, a briefcase, dolls, balls, shoes, passports, pictures.

The path is strewn with objects that once brought happiness to

human beings. Which child hugged this doll to its small bosom? No

more. She lies in a lime-covered pit.

78

79

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.O'n1)lil O'l1n'IJil O'Dil TIN ill'tJN ):J TIm1) m1Y.l lY ilND::l ."il!lv"il

4 a.m. A shout "Bring the coffee", rings through the barracks. We

go to bring coffee. The pot is heavy, the handles thin, our wooden

clogs get stuck in the mud. Covered wth sweat, we return and

distribute the coffee. Each prisoner thi rstily pours the obnoxious

black water down her throat.

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Soup distribution, The Jews receive last. The dog will taste it

before them, But he doesn't like the taste, We do, because we're

so hungry,

80

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A dirty, rusty bowl of indefinable watery liquid, called "soup", must

suffice for 4 prisoners. Whoever swallows quickly will get more

than her companions. The tin pot and the wooden ladles rattle and pound, the precious liqu id spi lls in the pandemonium. Later, in

the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, we got soup at 3 a.m.

They put a keg of soup in the middle of the room, everybody

pounced on it at once, the keg often overturned and the soup

spilled. Everyone started lapping it up off the floor. The guard

stood aside laughing heartily.

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Hunger is terrible. Hunger and fear are our constant companions.

83

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?nJNDil mJ1j/ nN OilJ \J1j/\!'!il) ,J1j/l j/)IJ nJ'nn1N ilD1N

We attack the garbage bins. Maybe someone will get lucky and

find a potato skin or piece of rotten beet to pacify his aching

stomach.

.Dl)11N Dl'l))!l Ol)1\) Dl"un .1n)!1 ))! 1n1N ll))!lJ ))! l il .il1n) 1"1il 01Nil

. 11)~)! ))! il IJ1)'I) il nN l)ND N1i11 ,1D~)!) 1J1)'I)) n1:Jil nN N:i1D lnN )) N)

. mNl~lJ) m,,1il ")Nl D1N) 0 1N" i1'lD1lJ il ,Ol:iNlil Ol)!'I)1"il ))))

Man becomes beast. Hunger drives you mad . Best friends

become arch enemies. Not everyone finds the strength to control

himself. The Nazi criminals make us wolves to each other.

84

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))N .lpnil1>' On)il Pl!)Ol l>'D) ,ilOl)l - n)))\!! ilDJ )J .n)))\!! 24-) Pl!)Oil)

0 1>'1)1 Oil\!! 1N ,01)>'1 0 1))) ilJl\!!n) Ol)))nOD 111::1) lJ ,illill lJ 11Dn N)

.Ol)))>'il OilllnJ O)\!!) D1D::Il ,)o!)nn ON\!!

Bread is often stolen at night. A piece of bread and some soup

have to last us for 24 hours. A bite every few hours has to carry

us over to morning. But sometimes thieves in the night try to steal

the hidden bread, even though they know that if they're caught

they'll pay with their lives.

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)) ,il)NJ mJD )))D) il)J))J 'n"il 0)) )JII - il')')!D 01il nN il)!)::;!lil

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I am sick, My legs no longer carry me, At roll call my mother

supports me so that the supervisor won't notice, My stomach is

turning, My friend Hanni bursts out of the barracks, She found a

beet near the kitchen,

She bent over it. Too late l A guard grabbed her, beat and kicked

her, She remained crouching over the beet. The guard left, she

picked it up, and reeling like a drunk got back to the barracks,

Face alight, in spite of the pain and the blood, she thrusts the beet

into my mouth, "You're bleeding" I tell her, "Never mind" she says,

wiping the blood away from her eyes, "I'd be willing to suffer such

a beating every day in return for a beet", At night I could hear her

groaning in her sleep,

86

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. 'l!lJN lJJ 1J'I1]

They torture us constantly. A supervisor pours a pai l of water

onto the mud wh ile we stand opposite, parched with thi rst. Our

throats are dry. Why does a person act so cruelly? Aren't we all

human beings?

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mnm I:JI1~tJ .NJ .~Uil l))Y" )N jJ)lln )'Vll'~ pN nJ'l ilmm I:JI1~O

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.nnllp o'n'YJ ))mN illl)'Y N'il

Sport in the camp doesn't mean strengthening or refreshing the

body. No. It means punishment. Why are we punished? Just

because we were born? To kneel on sharp stones, or carry

heavy rocks on our heads for hours, that was frequent sport and

pleasure for our head kapo, Maria from Westphalia.

88

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89

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.onN)niil

ilY.ll)1 npilil ,npm:n,,))'J mY1lil .mlJ1pil nnn ~)))I!!)NJ 10 .t))'J P))JJ

nwy:s npl)il) m1Yl - 1p t:l)lil )lnl!! .t:I)n)\J 'pl"n m:J1il ,Dlln-')YJ )I!!

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lnp)'JJ JilN il))lY.l impn . il))Y)'J "i)'J)n" - ilnn'N ):))'J .1)P)'J) il)lY.li))'J

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.Yl)'Jil 1Y)'J7 7:Jil .11?Pil ~m onn '))'J't:I )Nil

A sad and inhuman chapter were Dr. Mengele's medical

experiments. The victims were dismembered in Block 10 in

Auschwitz. Artificial inseminations, animal semen innoculations,

typhus infections. Human guinea pigs, young Jewesses, were

plentiful, free of charge. They come from France, Holland,

Belgium, Germany, Greece. From allover Europe, excellent

"material". Dr. Mengele especially liked to study twins.

Naked infants were sometimes placed on ice. A doctor, a civi lized

man with a university degree, watched his clock to see how long

before the infant died. All for the sake of science. p

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,o"n) lmN J''lIil O'lP o'Y.J ')1 ,lm)il nN

A time-proven method - solitary confinement in a stand-up cell.

Within 24 hours, the prisoner lost consciousness, He was brought

to with a bucket of cold water,

90

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91

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nil )NnY.l O)nY.l1Y.lil mp)J1 nN il?)?) 0Y.l)) ))JY.lII) ,00)l)1)Y.llpJ llJ)JII)

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.)))1 In? 1!l)~ ))?II) P1?JJ 0)II)1i1 )JJ1N .ill1J)Jil I)Nm N? il))?nll)

Auschwitz, Fall 1944

All the crematoria were set on fire, but unfortunately the fires

were extinguished. Still, some damage was done, some S.S. men

were killed. We worked in the munitions factory "Weichsel Metall

Union". We were guarded by S.S. men and German workers.

Four women stole gun powder and smuggled it over to the men's

camp. The Sonderkommando were prisoners who worked in the

crematorium. Day and night they listened to the cries of the

victims in the gas chambers, then pushed their bodies into the

ovens to be reduced to ashes. 300 of them, Jews and non-Jews,

were shot for setting fire to the crematorium, and others chosen

in their stead.

The 4 girls in our block awaited their sentence.

il'll)1'!) ):SN il-ppn .1m )DtJ"J1il )N n'\.'J '»)!)il ilp;,nD) )NJ)il O''lIJil

.1il) il!):SD 1'l1N nN 1>'1' 1il .1il'J1)!)':S nN )'lI)n ,illnil nN 1il) )J1n .O")J'»

They were taken to the political section, to Sergeant-Major

Bogger, An interrogation by him meant torture .. their breasts

were singed, their fingernails extracted. They knew what to

expect; they would soon be free.

92

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93

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nN1p? illl?nil ~)! ?N nll»)::l iln' 1) mm 1)1)1) il?N 1::l1J ,ml)l)Y.J)

. il?1V il)I)Pil il'~mn

ilOil nDlVlil ,l)OP11 ilDllN n ' IVNlil nnp:lY.Jil ,l)Oil ?DO - )lil 01)1l)Jlil

.0'1nN)

Ala Gartner, 26, of Bendin, Esther Weissblum, 18, Regina

Saperstein and Rosa Robota were hung before our eyes at a roll

call. Straight and proud they walked through our ranks with the ir

eyes fixed on the gal lows. I have never seen young people march

to their deaths with such calm and composure. Just a few days

earlier , Ala showed us her right hand which had a missing finger:

"You see, Elly, from this hand they tore my baby Rochele away

from me, and for screaming so much they cut off a finger.

I fought for my child, but they were stronger". She described

other horrors to me - babies cut up or their backs broken and

thrown into garbage cans, all in front of their crazed mothers'

eyes. Then the parents were led off to a mass grave. She swore

to fight these terrible criminals to her dying day. And now we

stand and watch Ala Gartner and her comrades walk towards

the gallows, soon to join her little Rochele. Her executioners were

Sergeant Hessler, Supervisor Irma Drecksler, Corporal Hesse,

and others.

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. . ~1 11'l!1N 1:1>'? nD1j/nD n'onil n'ltlil ,'l!01t1il nN ilNIl11)1

Auschwitz, January 1945

Air raid, block curfew. The planes, birds of freedom, hover over

our camp . Will we ever be free? The Russian front comes closer

to Auschwitz.

94

95

')!lJ D'Ni1)il O'»'O!lil n1Jp» nN '01)'01)' 1nnN 1pO'),mPi1!lY.l m!li'OY.lil

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il,mil mDJil nN 011Nil NJ~il N~Y.l ~'11'01NJ .1!li'O) 1j/'!lOil Oil)'O ,m'11l

11)1 0''0) ,O'1Jl m!lll ,m'11l1 ,O"!lj/'OD ,0")) ,D1N 1»''0 ''0 inPJ

.D'mm O'iJj/J

The crematoria are dismantled. The Germans' last attempt to

erase the traces of their terrible crimes is useless. The Allied

armies come upon mountains of dead bodies which the Germans

did not have time to burn. In Auschwitz the Red Army found huge

piles of human hair, shoes, spectacles and bodies of men,

women , and children in open pits.

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.1l))Y O)'Y.l1'V O'l11)D O)Jn OY O"Oil )'V)N ,1)Y~) m))'VDD

Day and night, in wind and cold, we drag ourselves through the

snow - to the west . Trucks and cars loaded down with the

bundles of fleeing German civilians ru sh past us. Whoever falls is

shot. The snow is splattered with blood, bod ies scattered

everywhere. We keep on marching, guarded by S.S. men with

bayoneted rifles.

96

97

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To get rid of the evidence and the witnesses, one commmander

invented an efficient method of liquidating five heads with one

bullet.

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To make sure they were all dead, he stabbed the still warm bodies

with his bayonet. My sister was buried underneath a pile of

bodies. The bullet had missed her. Miraculously, she survived.

98

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Many thousands fell and died on these snow-covered roads. I

shall never forget the pale bodies lying in the snow, their eyes

wide-open and staring, their striped suits stained with blood,

strewn out along the road. On February 2, we saw the formidable

walls of Ravensbruck.

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We spent six weeks in Ravensbruck. A large tent spread across a

huge pool of water. The water reached our knees. Skeletons, still

alive, stand for hours in the terrible cold. Roll call. And the march

renews, this time to Neustadt-Gleve, a sub-camp of Ravensbruck.

Marching again through snow and blood.

The morning of May 2nd 1945 at Neustadt-Gleve. It is roll call .

The commander of the camp yells: "We may have only 2 minutes

leff to live but you have on ly one. We are still the masters." A shot

rings out One of the girls in our row falls. Leaflets fall from the

sky:"Surrender!" .

100

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Afternoon of May 2, 1945, Neustadt-Gleve, Mecklenburg, We're

free, We've been liberated by the Allies, Exhausted , sick, starved,

lice-ridden, skeletons in striped suits, we fall into the arms of our

liberators,

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Were all the seas of the world to turn to ink and paper to cover

the surface of the earth, the ink and paper could not suffice to

convey the pain and tears of those inhuman tortures. lowe it to

my mother that I, a young girl, emerged together with her from

that hell. It was she, so we ll versed is suffering, who constantly

sustained and supported me whenever I was on the verge of

collapsing. "Keep going , my ch il d, this can 't last forever." She

herself, weak and broken as she was, refrained from showing her

exhaustion, so that I would not give in . Thus, we supported each

other.

One other factor was instrumental in saving my life - my drawing.

drew their faces, their cold, murderous eyes. I drew their families,

their wives and their ch ildren. Oespite the fact that they had wives

and children at home, they murdered the wives and children of

others in other countries. Many great artists perished in the

camps and the fact that my mother and I survived is - a miracle.

102

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Ella Schieber - Lieberman's gravestone

Haifa, March 2rd , 1998

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Ella and her mother Rosa Lieberman, and her Husband Emanuel Schieber

During their stay - as prisoners in the British Banishment Camp of

Cyprus - Larnaca (Winter Camp 66 ') November of 1947.

Below: Ella Schieber and her daughter Ada in Auschwitz-Birkenau

Camp, 1992.

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EDITOR - THE LATE AVI HURWITZ

DESIGN - SMADAR SCHIENDLER

PHOTOGRAPHS - YAIR PELEG

TRANSLATION - YECHIEL YANAI, URI ALONI, IRENE ARB ELL TYPESETIING - "TADPIS", HAIFA

PRINTING - AYALON OFFSET LTD. HAIFA